PodBill
Just what I expected
FirstWitch
A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
Kaydan Christian
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
timcurryis god
Such a treat to see Colin Firth in this role; the last movie I watched that featured Firth in the legal profession was "The Advocate," which is an interesting film, and I couldn't help but think of his role (as attorney) in that film while watching this one. This movie is like a really satisfying episode of the x-files, but real-life; not sci-fi.
eddie_baggins
It was always going to be a tricky proposition for whoever decided to take on the horrific true life story of the West Memphis 3 and the murders of 3 young boys in 1993, a case that has been documented in fascinating fashion in such documentaries as the haunting Paradise Lost and more recently West of Memphis. These documents of the murders and subsequent trial of Damian Echols and his supposed cronies were such in depth looks into the case and they were just some of many elements of the lore surrounding the event which includes books, investigations and countless other looks about who may have been the murderer and motivation etc. So being a tricky task already to make a meaningful movie of this story, it doesn't help that Atom Egoyan's Devil's Knot is such a heartless and sombre affair.Atom Egoyan has in the past shown himself to be a director of quite some talent yet whatever past glories he may've had behind camera in his previous films, there is none such evidence of skill here. While there is no doubting Devil's Knot gets off to a fine start, things quickly disappear into a murky rabbit hole of a movie that doesn't know where to focus or who to focus on. Egoyan directs in such a way that shows a bewildering lack of effort or thought and the film plods from scene to scene in such a manner that you'd be hard pressed to remember what happened mere minutes ago. The stories aforementioned intrigue as well is shamefully lost here as revelations come and go and potentially emotional jumping off points never eventuate, along with a cast that never sparks.In what must of looked like Oscar bait to them, previous Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon and the in need of a hit Colin Firth deliver insipid turns as grieving mother Pam Hobbs and investigator Ron Lax respectively. Witherspoon gained some noticeable weight for her particular role but that's about the only gravitas she brings to the table here while Firth meanders about with no particular creativity which is a shame as these characters as shown in the stand out documentaries are larger than life. We never feel Pam's grief or Ron's fierce determination for truth and while the child actors playing the accused teenagers lead by James Hamrick's Echols look the part, they barely get a moment to do anything in the unfocused narrative. Dane DeHaan as potential suspect Chris Morgan is the stand out performer here which is sad considering his short screen time.Uninvolving and just generally misguided, Devil's Knot is by no means a necessary or quality entry into this sad true life story's film canon. You get the feeling that down the line a much better and more heartfelt approach to these people's tale will be told but in the meantime all we have is Egoyan's forgettable film and some worryingly lame performances from two A-list actors. For what is a shocking and intriguing story, Devil's Knot is barely even mildly interesting.1 and a half misplaced blood sample out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check into - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com
jagarcesnevarez13
I could realize why this movie is too low, it doesn't deserves a great answer from the normals.The story of the movie (which is really based on true attempts) is the only thing that saves it from being terrible at all, after that. the rest of the movie is disappointingly.But, terribly, this movie connects some things stupid from the story using them in the movie, making it feel disappointingly for a lot of people, just like (SPOILER) the decisions of the judgment to charge down the guilty for murder with... Heavy Metal music and black dressing, hey that's stupid at all, what's wrong with Heavy Metal music, with wearing black clothes and reading a little about occultism, just for that things, you're a serial murdered, that's not good.
moonspinner55
True account of three pre-teen boys in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993 who were murdered while out riding their bikes and dumped in the river; the slow-acting local law, while managing to botch up evidence and allow a blood and mud-covered drifter go free, focuses their investigation on a trio of trouble-causing teenage boys into witchcraft and heavy metal music, while the public seems grateful just to have faces to pin their rage upon. Since the real-life case had a peculiarly unresolved and unsatisfying conclusion, the film follows suit. Director Atom Egoyan handles the proceedings matter-of-factly; he thankfully isn't exploitative but, while there are devastating images, his cool, detached take on these crimes lacks an emotional core (which Reese Witherspoon's grieving mother fails to provide). Colin Firth, as wealthy legal investigator Ron Lax, offers the movie a reality check--his 'obsession' with the case is subtle and he's a marvelous touchstone--but the small-minded bigots and publicity-seekers in the supporting cast are hard to take. Egoyan, working from a screenplay by Paul Harris Boardman and Scott Derrickson, from Mara Leveritt's book, seems intent on showing us the town's mass prejudice--even the judge in the courtroom acts like a yokel--and this causes the narrative to flag in the second-half. ** from ****
